Auxiliary seat for busses and the like



Sept. 23, 1930. P. s. ECKLAND vAUXIILARYr SEAT FOR BUSSES AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Shet l Sept. 23, 1930, v `i. s. ECKLAD 1,776,583

AUXIL'IABY SEAT FOR BUSSES AND THE LIKE Patented Se pt. z3, 1930 PETER s. ECKLAND, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA i AuxILIAnY SEAT Fon BUssEs AND THE LIKE Application filed Marien s, 1929. serial No. 345320.

'This invention relates to auxiliary seats Fig. 6 is aV horizontal section taken on the e foruseparticularly in busses, railroad cars,

street cars, the

In busses,

aters and churches.

railroad cars, theaters andy 5 churches, it is often desirable to seat passengers or guests in' the aisles, in order that ad-v ditional seatin At the present g capacity may be afforded. time, folding camp stools are largely usedin busses to seat passengers in the aisle of a buswhen the same. is overf walking through the aisle.

It is the main object of this invention,

therefore, to p auxiliary seat rovide a novel and improved construction which, although` particularly designed foruse in busses,.can be utilized elsewhere as an auxiliary seat and which can be mounted on a suitable support and can be readily` extended for use to project outwardly from itssupport as'into an aisle, and which-when its `use is discontinued,

" will automatically fold up inV out-of-the-way position adjacent its support.

To Vthis end,

novel parts and novel combinations of parts the invention consists in the hereinafter defined in the claims, and described in the following specification, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the samecr various views,

auxiliary seat similar parts 1 throughout the and, in whi-ch,

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation'of the of theV present invention appliedV to lthe frame of a main bus seat, the auxiliary seat being shown in extended posi.-

tionA in full lin out-of-the-way es Vand being shown in folded position in dotted lines;`

Fig 2 is a view inside elevation ofthe auxiliary seat in extended position;

. Fig.` 3 is a v e 3-3 lof Fig. 1,

rtical section taken on the line asis indicatedby the arrows.;

Fig. 4 i-s a Yvertical'section taken on the line 4 4 of Fg. 8, asis indicated'bythe arrows; v

, Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section taken on the line -of Fi rows, and

g. 3, as is indicated bythe arand .Sand forming the'aisle arm of the the legs? and 8to comprise, in reality, an

e a'pair'of horizontallyispacedcap bearings 15 3, as isj` indicated by the main seat of the lbus, a horizontal cross bar 1Q connecting the medial portions of the legs 7 and'8 and a horizontal angle bar11 con# necting the legs 7 and 8 adjacentto but spaced from the lowerends of the legs. ",Tlie legs7 and 8 are ofchannel shape and are preferably provided with ribs Wand `,8a respectively, which projectoutwardly at their outer sides. The Ttop cross bar 9 is also pref ferably of channel shape,"the open portion of the channel projectingdownwardly and the outer lange'of thechannel being cut away at 9V and 9b, 'for the purposes hereinafter described.V The cross bar 10: is preferably constructed of` angular shape and is pro vided with wide inwardly extending Vhorizontal ange10, .-fo rining a support` for Va spring and cushion support frame 12, for

Vthe main bus seat, the frame 12 having the cross'bar 12'1L at its central portion. The in-` ner angeof the crossbar 9, vand theyertical flange ofthe cross `bar 10, liein the same plane and are joined by vertical' strips A, 13 formed integral with the inner flanges of`v open frame. l The lower angle bar 11is pre-eV ferably secured to the inner sides of the legs 7 and 8 and, accordingly,lwill be inwardly spaced slightlyfromthe plane of thefrarne' above described.` 'A` hub 14 projects rearwardlyV from the rear leg 8 and the backV of the main seat (not illustrated) is adapted to be secured to this hub.`V e f j In accordance with Vthe presentinvention,

j bearings 15 are preferably placed on the cross bar 9 immediately behind the cut-away por tions 9a on the outerside'ange of the cross bar and the purpose of'cutting away the flangels to permit the caps of the bearings to be easily secured in place. VAn Vauxiliary' seat bottom 17 is provided'and carriesspaced lugs 17 a at its inner edge which are journaled on the shaft 16.' VUpwardly ,eXt-endingxlugs 17" are provided on the rear edge of the seat bottom 17'and a shaft -18 is vvjournaled inthe lugs17?. A rectangular seat back 19 carrying a back cushion 20,*has downwardly projecting lugs 19a fixed to the shaft 18, and a coiled spring 21 surrounding thecentral portion of the sha-ft 18 and fixed at one lend to the seat bottom 17 and bearing at its other end against the rear'portion of the sea-t'back 19, normally acts top-hold the seat back`19 Jfolded downwardly against the seat bottom 17. The shaft 18 projects inwardly ifrom the seat frame 19thr`ough'the cut-away portion Qb'in the outer flange ofthe top cross'bar9 for some little'distance, and acam`22 is carried at this end ofthe -shaft'18, s'oithat'the,cainwill extend within the outline ofthe side frame A at the point ot' jointurewbetween the leg8" andV thecross' bar 9. A vertical sliding rod 23lis mounted within theleg 8, projects through a partition 24 in the leg'and has a reduced upperportion 23n fitting withinaverti'cal opening 9,c in the top cross bar' 9.V .T he rod 23 carries 'on its reduced.portionf23a, an Iarm' 25 which projects above thecam 22 and isV adapted to be acted onby the cam asthe bac-lr` 19 of the auxiliary seat isV 'swung .downwardly against thebottom A17 .to raise the rod 23. A

coiled springv 26 'fitting about the lower por# tion oftherod' 23 Vre-'acts between thepartition 24 and a shortfcross pin'27 carried by the rod '23 adj aeentits lower end. Therod'23is pivotedat itslower end tothe rear endof an arm 2 8 pivoted adjacent its central portion on a pivot29, mounted ina hub 41'12on thefangle o bar 11.. The rear end ofthe arm 28 ispreferably offset outwardly `fromthe main lportion of.V the arm, as ybest shown in Fig. ,6. In order lthat the 'cent-ral portionv of thearm may itwithin the channel ofthe legv'8 and the rear endfjof the arr-n is bent ,inv U-shape, as sliownf,so that the pivot'30 j oiningthe 'lower end ofthe rod 23fto the rearlend of the arm 2 8, may have a`two1pointfsupport the arm.

The forward end ofthe armv 28 is provided with an yupwardly projecting tooth portion 28adapted to be engagedin a 'notch 31a, formed; on the lower edgefof the lower and innerend 4oifa supporting bar 31, pivoted at its upper end to al pair of ears 32 formed on and projecting downwardlyfifroni the ilower Youter portion ot the seat bottom ,17.V When the seat bottom 17 is swung outwardly to horizontal position as is illustrated in full lines Fig. 1, from the side trame A, the supporting bar 31 will project diagonally downwardly to the angle bar 11, and the lower and inner portion of the supporting bar will be bent relative to the main portion of .the,bar, so that the lower portion extends substantially horizontally and rests on the horizontal flange of the angle bar 11 with the tooth portion 28EL -ot arm 28 in engagement"with the notch 31a.

The extreme lower and inner end of the supporting bar 31 projects through a keeper 33 secured to, or formed integral with the angle bar 11. This leeper 33 forms the outer support for acasing within which the support bar31 may be carried whenthe auxiliary seat is lowered. The said casing consists of two sideplates 34 held in spaced relation from each other by a lower block 35, an upper strip 36 and an upper andinner block37 secured to the central .crossbar of the spring and cushion supportframe 12 of the main seat. It will be noted that the inner portions of the platesV 34 project diagonally upwardly and thattlie inner block 37 is cut diagonally away at '37aL onits lower edge slightly outwardly from the extreme innermost edges of the plates 311.. A block 38 is mounted between the plates 34 nat the lower edges thereof atthe ioint where the plates :first start to extend Operation j Let us consider that the auxiliary seat is swung Vto the position illustrated in Fig. '1, `and, that the seat'is occupied by a passenger. When rthe passenger gets up from the seat, the spring21 will force the back 19 toswing downwardly and fold against 4the 'seat bottom 17; During this action, the shaft 18 and cam 22 secured thereto-will be rotated,'there by vforcing the cam to engage the arm V25 on the rod`23 to Vslide the rod 23 upwardly against the tension of the spring 26. As'th'e rod 23 slides upwardly, .the rear vend ofarm` 28 will vbe carried upwardly thereby 'swinging the'rforward or tooth portion of the arm 28a downwardly and out of engagement .with the notch 31 inthe support bar 31. VPrior tolthis'time,'the'tooth portion'28a of arm 28 will 'have held supporting bar 31'in diagonal outwardly extending relation'to support ythe seat bottom 1 7 in horizontal position. Upon thedisengagement of the toothportion 28a from vthe notch 31a of support arm 31, theseat'bottom 17, seatback 19 and other parts carried-thereby, will be free .to swing downwardly and they will, in fact, 'tall by` gravity downwardly, swinging about-the lll) ifrrasse flange of the top cross bar 9, the stripsl and the vertical flange of the cross bar 10, whereupon the seat bottom-17 and seatback 19 will depend downwardly from the shaft 16 in sub stantially vertical position and will be disposed completely within the outline of the side frame A, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 1.

\ `As the seat'bottom 17: swings downwardly,

" l by the plates 34, blockx, strip 36 and block 37. `During this movement `ofthe support the supporting bar 31 will slide `inwardly through the keeper.v 33 into the casing formed v travel of the bus.I `iIt will thus be seen that when a passenger gets up from the auxiliary seat, after using the same, the seat will automatically of its own accord, fold upand swing downwardly in out-of-theway position within the outline of the side frame A. The aisle intowhich the seat will project when the seat is in extended position, will thus be quickly cleared for the free passage of passengers from front to rear through the bus.

When it is desired to set up the seat, from the position of the seat within the outline of `the side frame A, the lower` edge of the seat back 19, or seat bottom 17, will be grasped and the seat bottom 17 will'be swung upwardly to horizontal position projecting outwardly from the side frame. The back 19 will then be raised against'the tension of spring 21 until the back is in an approximately vertical position. ,Thisl movement of the back will cause thel shaft 18 and cam 22 to be revolved, thereby permitting the spring 26 to act to slide the rod 23 and arm 25 carried thereby downwardly. The rear end of A the arm 28 will,` accordingly swing downseat back past a slight inclination beyond the vertical when the sea-t back is upwardly swung from the seatbottom 17. Y y

Although `the device has been described as being applied to the side frame offa bus seat, to provide an auxiliaryl aisle seat for the bus, it will, of course, be understood that it can be used as an auxiliaryV seat inrailway cars, street cars, churches, theaters, or, in fact,

anywhere where anauxiliary seat is desired The device has been.: amply demonstrated in actual practiceand hasbeenfoundlto be very successful for thepurposes intended. The parts are few and the construction is simple.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be Amade in the form, detailsfarrangement and proportions of the various lparts without departingV fromethe scope of the present invention.v

What is claimed is 1. An auxiliary seat for `busses ,and the like, having Ain combination, a `suitable lsupport, a` seat/bottom pivoted to said support,V

and adapted to beswung upwardly to extend Y outwardly therefrom in substantiallyahorizontal plane, a seat back pivoted tosaid bottom,.resilient means normallytending to fold saidfback downwardly against said bottom,

ymeans" forsupporting said bottom in outwardly extended horizontalV position, and meansoperatingwhen said back folds downwardly against saidbottom to disengage said supporting means and permit said bottom and back to gravitate downwardly adjacent said support whereby when `an` foccupant gets upfrom said seat, said seat willautomatically fold up.

2. An auxiliary seat for Abusses and the like, having in combination, a suitable support, a seat bottom pivoted to said support and adapted to be swung outwardlyytherefrom to ext-end in substantially a horizontal plane, a seat back pivoted to nsaid bottom and adapted to be folded downwardly against said bottom, a. bar pivoted to Vsaid bottom, a member adapted to engage said bar to cause said bar to support said bottom in horizontal outwardly extendedV position, and means operating as said back is swung downwardly on said'bottom to cause said member to be disengaged fromsaid bar and permit `said bottom and back to swing downwardly adjacent saidsupporttd substantially vertical position. 'v

3. An auxiliary yseat for busses `and `the like, having in combination, a suitable support, a seat bottom pivoted to said. support.

and adapted to be swung outwardly therev from to extend in'substantially a horizontalV plane, a seat back pivoted to said bottom and adapted to be folded Ydownwardly lagainst said bottom, a bar pivotedto said bottom, a memberadapted to engage said bar to cause saidl bar to support said bottom in horizontal outwardly extended position, acam` carried by said back and a rod connected to said member and" adapted to be engaged by resilient means normally forcingsaid back i to fold downwardly Vagainst 'saidbottom,

vin said support, and having anfarmpro'- -jectin'gover said ncam, a-"supporting bar -piyoted1at oneV end to said seat bottom, :an

`arm pivoted to said support, pivotallyv secured- .,to ysaid Arod4 atione end: and having another portion adapted to be releasably engaged with said supporting -bar @to hold -said scat bottom VLin outwardly :swung horizontal relation, said vlast mentioned arm' Abeing ladapted to be disengaged .fiomtsaid'sup- `porting bar when `.said 'rod 'is vactuated by vsaid Acam to slide in fone direction, 1thereby permitting 'said scat bottom andi back to gravitate downwardly .adjacent 'said .support to'l substantially 'vertical position.

6. Thefstructureidenedfin claim 5, afkeep er through which Vthe llower end of saidsupporting lbarprojects,'ai i'd a xguid'ecasing into which `said supporting bar will tbe carried .having in combination, a suitable. support,l a seat bottom pivoted to said' support and adapted't'o be swung upwardly to extend out- -war'dly therefrom insubstantially a horizontal plane, 'a rod mounted at the rearedge of said vbottoma seat back pivoted on said rod, a coiled 'spring encirclingsaid rod-and .having one 'end beariner against said bottom audits :otheren'd 'bearing :against -said back tozurge said back to fold downwardlyragainst ,75

said bottom, means for supporting said bottom in loutwardly Vextended horizontal positio'nand'means operating whenY said back 'folds downwardly' vagainst said bottom to disengage said 'supporting fme'ans and permit said'bottom andback to gravitate downwardly adjacent said support' whereby, when afteroccupancy, an occupant rises from said seat, said seat will automatically fold up.

'In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LPETER S. ECKLAND.

'7. An auxiliaryfseator busses andthe like, i'

having in `combination, 'a `suitable support, -a 'seat Vbottom pivote'd to said support vand adapted .to befswungoutwardly ftherefrom to eXtendi in substantially: a Lhorizontal plane, aiseatback pivotedto.said'bottomf'and adapte'd ato fbe "folded downwardly` against fsaid bottom, azbarpiyoted to saidfbottom, a m'ember adapted to r engage v said bar 'to 'cause :said bar'to 'supportfsai'd l:bottom y-in ,horizontal outwardly extended position, means operating as said :back 1s swung -idownwardly on said bottom to Vcause sai'dmeniberto-be disengaged from :said bar vand :permit ,said bottom and back Vto swing downwardly Jadjacent said support tto lsubstantiallyvertical position, Vva

keeper-through which 'the lower fend'of said Ybarprojects'and asca'sing secured to said keep# er into Awhich'saidbar will'be carried" as said seat and back .swing downwardly adjacent saidsupport. Y

:8. The structuredefined `in claim =7, and a spring mounted :in said casing-inthe path of said rbariaszit moves 'into said casing Yand actingto yieldingly force the xlower end of said bar upwardly a short distance,and'amemberr against whichtheflower"end of said bar 4-wi'll be Jr'orcedby'lsaid spring, whereby said bar .A

will be held .against said'lastmentined `mein`Y ber under resilient tension toiprevent -the rattlingthereof.

19. Anauxiliaryiseat fori/busses the-like, 

